'Why not...?' tourist slogan suggested for city

Peterborough Civic Society said it was "ridiculous" more was not being done to promote the city

"Peterborough: While you're here, why not...?" That is the slogan the city's civic society has suggested to attract visitors and signpost them towards its top attractions.

Vice-chair Toby Wood said signage could greet people at the city's railway station and include tip-offs to visit the Norman cathedral, Art Deco lido and Bronze Age site Flag Fen.

It comes after the county's mayor said the area would benefit from joining VisitEngland's local visitor economy partnership and bid for government money.

Mr Wood said it was "extremely disappointed" the council had not "taken the lead" to promote the city. The authority said a new tourism website was identified as a priority at a recent meeting.

Mr Wood said the council's visitor strategy, approved last year, had proved ineffective at making the city a tourist destination.

He said the creation of a walking map of the city and a recent visit from the Hereward Community Rail Partnership, aimed at finding ways to promote Peterborough, had both been organised by Fenland District Council.

"We as a civic society are extremely disappointed that Peterborough City Council hasn't taken the lead in promoting its own city," said Mr Wood.

"Would it really take much to do some basic promotion of Peterborough?

"If I was a visitor to Peterborough, I'd stand in the middle of Cathedral Square, look around, and say 'Now what?'

"That's what Peterborough itself needs to do - provide that, 'Now what?'"

Toby Wood has put together a poster he said could help promote the city

Peterborough City Council leader councillor Shabina Qayyum, said she agreed the council is "not quite there" with he strategy plans, adding that working collaborately with the mayor is the "way forward".

"It is work in progress", the Labour councillor said.

"I know mayor and my priorities align very much in being passionate about Peterborough. It is time that we work together and boost our aspects.

"I am looking forward to an overview by the mayor to see how much cash can be injected to help us with that. We can't do it alone.

Paul Bristow, the region's Conservative mayor, said he had met VisitEngland to discuss setting up a partnership to "promote tourism and offer business support".

The partnership offers members "expert advice, specialist toolkits and training programmes" to help local areas market themselves and highlight funding they could benefit from.

The city council said Peterborough Tourism Collective, made up of representatives from the leisure and hospitality sectors, recently held a "productive meeting" to agree next steps for "strengthening the city's visitor economy".

The group identified priorities to take forward, which included creating "a new dedicated tourism website - to serve as a central hub for promoting Peterborough's attractions, events and visitor experiences".

"Alongside this the city council has been working with the Combined Authority on a regionwide approach to growing the visitor economy," it added.